1.3 Energy and Equilibria Flashcards
What is the 1st law of thermodynamics:
Energy can not be created nor destroyed, it can only be transferred or transformed from one form to another
What is the 2nd law of thermodynamics:
It is not possible to convert one form of energy to another with 100% efficiency
What is Entropy?
- A measure of the amount of disorder or chaos in a system, always INCREASES
- Entropy is “The increase in disorder and randomness in a system”
What is energy and how does it exist?
Energy is the ability or capacity to do work,
Energy exists as:
- Stored energy
- Kinetic energy
What happens when energy is converted from one form to another?
some of it is degraded to heat
- heat is HIGHLY entropic (disorganized)
What is steady state equilibrium?
Despite constant inputs and outputs of energy and matter, the overall stability of the system remains
There are no changes over the longer term, but there may be oscillations in the short term
Negative feedback mechanisms return the system to the original state. (This might take some time)
What is static equilibrium?
In a static equilibrium, there are no inputs or outputs of matter or energy
There is no change in the system over time
What is this equilibria?
It is a stable system as it returns to the original equilibrium after a disturbance
What is this equilibria?
It is an unstable system as the system does not return to the same equilibrium after a disturbance and instead forms a NEW equilibrium
What is the “Stability of system”?
“The tendency of the system to return to the original equilibrium following disturbance”
Why are older systems better than new ones?
Newly formed systems are relatively vulnerable to disturbances as they do not yet have the complex feedback mechanisms, The more resilient a system is, the more disturbance it can deal with
What is positive feedback?
Positive feedback is feedback that increases change; it promotes deviation away from an equilibrium.
This is BAD
What is negative feedback?
Negative feedback is a feedback that tends to counteract any deviation from equilibrium due to external factors. This self-regulation is homeostasis and explains stability in systems.
–> Leads to the maintenance of a steady-state
This is GOOD
What type of feedback does this show?
Positive feedback as the temperature keeps increasing
What type of feedback does this show?
Negative feedback as the population of the hares and lynxs remain relatively stable
